POTOMAC ASSOCIATION
UCC Theology Institute
October 11, 2008 10 a.m. to 4:00 pm

Location:
Rock Spring Congregational Church UCC
5010 Little Falls Road
Arlington, VA 22207

Click here for a map to the church.

Bring a lunch or snack, we will take very short breaks

This Institute is part of a sequence of four Institutes that are offered each year in History, Polity, Theology and Ministry of the UCC by the Potomac Association, following the guidelines prepared by History, Theology and Polity teachers on the essentials of a basic one semester course. (see the complete Essentials list).  The Institute format is designed to serve the needs of persons who cannot enroll in a regular semester length seminary course to cover this material. The Institutes normally meet from 10 am to 4 pm on a Saturday, with the exception of the Polity Institute which meets on Friday from 10 am to 4 pm and requires Saturday attendance at the Central Atlantic Conference Annual meeting at the University of Delaware. 

Participants seeking formal evaluation for authorized ministerial standing are expected to do pre-Institute reading and assignments before coming to the Institute (all readings are resources posted here or linked to the web). Several weeks after each Institute participants seeking formal evaluation submit answers to a set of follow-up questions and participate in a 45 minute conference telephone evaluation with members of the Committee on Church and Ministry. Observer participants (those not seeking evaluation) are strongly encouraged to do the advanced reading and assignments.

ASSIGNMENTS:

Required reading assignments may be downloaded from this website or from other websites on the worldwide web.  Some materials are pdf files and you will need a reader to access them. The reading for this Institute is extensive. In some cases optional articles are suggested, but not required. Practical field assignments require personal activities/preparation before October 11. Short presentations are involved. These UCC Institutes are enrichment opportunities for all members of the UCC who want to learn more about the history, polity, theology and ministry of the UCC. Everyone is welcome. No fees and no pre-registration is required. If you come, however, please make a commitment to the whole time.

INSTRUCTORS:

Barbara Brown Zikmund, retired church historian, seminary educator, UCC   author   beebeezee@verizon.net

Letha Dreyfus, Chairperson, Church and Ministry Committee, Potomac Association ledreyfus@gmail.com

Janet Parker, Pastor for Parish Life, Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ  janet@rockspringucc.org

Goals for the Institute: (from the Essentials document)

                                                 THEOLOGY
Participants will obtain knowledge of . . .
----Theological documents and texts (e.g. Statement of Faith, Basis of Union, Prism articles, various working papers of the national setting, ecumenical documents, pronouncements of General Synod, etc.
----Worship (including Book of Worship, New Century and other hymnals)
----Ecclesiology (the nature of the church)
---- Creeds and confessions ("testimonies, not tests" of what is commonly held among us)

Pre-Institute Assignments:

Don't panic over this list. Read and skim.  Many of things on the list are only one page long. The goal is to become aware of the theological culture of the UCC.  You may want to print out things and create a notebook that you can return to many times in your ministry. You can also go to a website of "UCC Online Resources" to find most of these documents. http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/

1. Learn more about the pre-1957 theological traditions that inform UCC theology?

Read the Heidelberg Catechism
http://www.ucc.org/beliefs/heidelberg-catechism.html
Read Good & Harbaugh on the Heidelberg Catechism
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/good-harbaugh-heidelberg-catechism-lth-3.pdf
Read Philip Schaff, "The Principle of Protestantism" (Mercersburg Theology)
Read the Cambridge Platform   http://www.pragmatism.org/american/cambridge_platform.htm
Read Charles Hambrick-Stowe on The Cambridge Platform http://www.ucc.org/beliefs/theology/a-company-of-professed.html
Read The Burial Hill Declaration
http://www.maxfieldbooks.com/eofburialt.html
Kansas City Statement of Faith
http://www.ucc.org/beliefs/kansas-city-statement-of.html
Read the Six Principles of the Christian Church http://www.ucc.org/beliefs/principles-of-the-christian.html
Read Nathan Hatch "The Theology of the Christian Movement"
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/hatch-christian-movement.pdf
Read the Bekenntnisparagraph
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/bekenntnisparagraph-lth-6.pdf
Read the Evangelical Catechism http://www.ucc.org/beliefs/evangelical-catechism.html
OPTIONAL READING:
Max Stackhouse, "Edwards is for Us,"
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2945
Walter Bruggemann, "Biblical Authority,"
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2104
H.R. Niebuhr, "Reconstruction of Faith,"
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=858

2. Examine formal expressions of UCC theology since 1957

Read the editorial introductions to sections four and five in LTH volume seven Theology & Making a Difference
Read the UCC Basis of Union
http://www.ucc.org/beliefs/basis-of-union.html
Read Roger Shinn, "Historical Reflections on the UCC Statement of Faith"
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/shinn-ucc-statement-of-faith.pdf
Read the Preamble to the UCC Constitution http://www.ucc.org/beliefs/preamble-to-the-constitution.html
Read 1986 Theological Foundations of a Just Peace Church
http://www.ucc.org/justice/issues/peacemaking/pdfs/Just-Peace-Church-Pronouncement.pdf
Read 1987 Statement of Mission http://www.ucc.org/beliefs/statement-of-mission.html
Read 1993 Toward the 21st Century
http://www.ucc.org/beliefs/toward-the-21st-century.html
Read 1993 Becoming a Multiracial Multicultural Church
http://www.ucc.org/justice/multiracial-multicultural/
Read 2003 Anti-Racist Resolution
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/anti-racist-gs-24-2003.pdf
Read 2005 Called to Wholeness Resolution (disabilities)
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/gs-25-called-to-wholeness-in-christ.pdf
Read 2005 Marriage Equality Resolution
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/marriage-equality.pdf
Read 2008 Pastoral Letter on Faith and the Environment
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/pastoral_letter-on-faith-and-the-environment.pdf
Read 2008 Pastoral Letter on Faith and Science
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/pastoral-letter-on-faith-and-science.pdf

3. Review materials that show the theological and multiracial multicultural diversity of UCC theology. Select several to read in depth, skim some of the others:

Read "Theology in the UCC" in the Leaders Box
http://www.ucc.org/ministers/leaders-box/
Read Frederick Herzog
"The End of Systematic Theology"

Black Theology
Barbara Essex "Black Theology"
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/essex-black-theology.pdf
(OPTIONAL: James Cone, The Story Context of Black Theology" http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/jul1975/v32-2-article2.htm )

Feminist Theology and Inclusive Language
Davida Foy Crabtree on Inclusive Language
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/inclusive-language-lth-31.pdf
Sharon Ringe on Feminist Theology
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/ringe-feminist-theology.pdf
(OPTIONAL:
 Rosemary Radford Reuther, "Black Theology vs. Feminist Theology" http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=433
Barbara Brown Zikmund, "The Trinity and Women's Experience" http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=86)

Asian American, American Indian and Hispanic Theology
David Hirano, "Theology among Asian Americans in the UCC"
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/hirano-asian-am-theology.pdf
Norm Jackson, "An Indian Perspective on the UCC"
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/jackson-indian-perspective.pdf
Enrique Armijo, "Immigrant Theology"
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/armijo-immigrant-theology.pdf

OPTIONAL: Other Theological Perspectives
Allen O. Miller, "The Mystery of God and Humanity"
Frederick Herzog, "Spirituality: Shaping Doctrine at the Grass Roots" http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=322
Max Stackhouse, "The Free Church Tradition and Social Ministry" http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1927
"Dubuque Statement of Faith" http://www.biblicalwitness.org/BWFStatement_of_Faith.htm
"Lexington Confession" http://faithfulandwelcoming.org/content/show.asp?mne=lexington%2Dconfession

4. Interview a UCC lay person about what they believe. Ask that person what is central to his or her faith (e.g. God, Jesus, church, Bible, tradition, ethnic identity, etc.), what concepts are important (e.g. justice, forgiveness, eternity, justice, peace etc.) and what it means to them when we say "God is Still Speaking?" Come prepared to make a 3-5 minute oral report.

5. Come to the Institute with your own theological questions. Be prepared to write on small post-in notes two or three serious "theological" questions that are important to you, or bother you. The questions (post-it notes) will be shared anonymously so be absolutely honest. You may have a question because you don't know the answer, or because you don't even understand the meaning of the question. You may have a question because you know the answer (or think you do) and you don't like it or have difficulty accepting it.  During the Institute we will put all of your questions on the wall and reflect together about the ways in which the UCC wrestles with theological questions. [NOTE: Participant observers should be prepared to participate in this exercise.]

6. Learn about worship traditions and practices within Christian history and the UCC?

Read about the history of Protestant Worship in recent decades
http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/apr1986/v43-1-article6.htm
Read two small pamphlet statements on Baptism and Communion http://www.ucc.org/worship/baptism/ and http://www.ucc.org/worship/communion/
Read Louis Gunnemann on Baptism and Eucharist
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/gunnemann-on-baptism.pdf
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/gunnemann-on-eucharist.pdf
Read the Introduction to the 1986 UCC Book of Worship http://www.ucc.org/assets/pdfs/worshipintro.pdf
Read the Introduction to the 1995 New Century Hymnal http://www.ucc.org/assets/pdfs/intro.pdf
Read about the seasons of the church year and liturgical colors http://www.ucc.org/worship/liturgies/liturgical-colors.html
Visit the Worship Ways website and the SAMUEL website to learn about online resources for planning and leading worship http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/
http://www.ucc.org/worship/samuel/

 7. Write one paragraph about a particularly important personal worship experience.  Was it a "special service" (e.g. wedding, funeral, Easter, at camp), or was it an ordinary Sunday service?  What made it so important to you? Be prepared to read your paragraph to the group.

8. Click on the "Change in the World" tab at the top of http://www.ucc.org and choose one of the topics related to UCC peace and justice work or social witness. Read the texts about what you selected and answer the question: "What theological belief or concept underlies or informs the UCC witness in this area?" Another way to put the question is to say, "Why do we do that, or why are we concerned about that?" How are UCC motives different from those of other social activist groups? Come prepared to tell the other members of the Institute the topic you chose AND the theological rationale behind UCC involvement in that issue.

9. Read about the "theology of the church" (ecclesiology). Consider how the UCC motto and logo express that theology. How does a "comma" expresses our ecclesiology? Be prepared to discuss.

Visit the "God is Still Speaking" website
http://www.ucc.org/god-is-still-speaking/
Read the restructure background paper on Ecclesiology
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/ucc-ecclesiology-lth-138.pdf
Read the "Theological Basis for the UCC's Ecumenical Vocation" http://www.ucc.org/assets/pdfs/73-theostatement.pdf
Read about UCC ecumenical relations http://www.ucc.org/ecumenical/ecumenical-partnerships-and.html
Read about the UCC-Disciples partnership http://www.ucc.org/ecumenical/ucc-disciples-ecumenical.html
Read about UCC perspectives on Interfaith Relations , especially the UCC statement about Christian-Jewish relations http://www.ucc.org/assets/pdfs/87-gs-jewish.pdf
and the statement about Christian-Muslim relations http://www.ucc.org/assets/pdfs/89-gs-muslim.pdf

10. Read about contemporary centrist Protestant theology and so-called "Evangelical Theology". What type of theology is the UCC developing as it moves into the future?

Read a contemporary summary of UCC theology "What We Believe"
http://www.ucc.org/about-us/what-we-believe.html
Read the recent "What Matters" material outlining six basic beliefs important to the UCC
http://www.uccvitality.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=187
Read several sermons/speeches by UCC General Minister and President  John H. Thomas, "A United Church that Stands for Something" http://www.ucc.org/news/john-thomasa-unite.html
John H. Thomas, "Is it Time to Grow Up: UCC at 50"
http://www.ucc.org/news/john-thomas-is-it-time.html
Read Frederick Trost "Taking the Bible Seriously" http://www.ucc.org/beliefs/theology/fred-trost.html
Read Peter Schmeichen, "The Challenge of Conservative Theology" http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1756
Read the introduction to Roger E. Olson The Pocket History of Evangelical Theology and the chapter about UCC theologian Donald Bloesch (known as a "Progressive Evangelical Theologian")
Read Gabriel Fackre on UCC Christology from a 2006 book Who Do You Say that I Am?
http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/fackre-on-christ-in-texts-of-the-ucc.pdf

SUMMARY OF PRE-INSTITUTE ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Read information about pre-1957 theological traditions
2. Read formal UCC theological statements since 1957
3. Read materials on theological diversity and multicultural multiracial traditions in the UCC
4. Interview a lay person about his or her theology, prepare for a 2-3 minute report
5. Prepare two or three theological questions to put on post-it notes
6. Read materials about worship
7. Write one paragraph about an important personal worship experience, prepare to share
8. Visit the UCC Justice website, choose an issue, determine its theological rationale
9. Read about UCC ecclesiology
10. Read about centrist Protestant theology and the future theological stance of the UCC

bbzupdated 9-06-08